Vernon Search and Rescue are one Okanagan team that’s seeing an unusually high number of rescue calls this season.
The busy start comes after a hectic 2022 when the number of calls skyrocketed.
“Well to put it in perspective, usually when the snow flies and it’s up at elevation we do an average of 21 to 25 snow or winter operation calls. In January alone we’ve done nine, so our numbers are considerably higher this year,” said Coralie Nairn Vernon Search and Rescue.
“We seem to be escalating in numbers, despite our efforts to work ourselves out of a job with education and prevention through the adventure smart program. We had 81 operations last year.”
The trend search and rescue teams are noticing this year is inexperienced people getting lost or stranded in the backcountry, as opposed to injury calls, which have been very few.
“It’s people getting into terrain they’re ill-equipped for or their bikes or sleds aren’t capable of going down said drainages etc.”
However, inexperience isn’t all to blame, low levels of snow have hampered back-country activities, pushing people into possibly dangerous areas.
“Snow levels are actually lower in some areas so you have to go up quite high to get that really nice powder or an area where there’s not a lot of tracks and its untouched pristine snow, and when you do that you’re going farther and farther into the backcountry and risk your terrain,” said Nairn.
Unlike Vernon Search and Rescue, Central Okanagan and Penticton crews are at a usual amount of calls, with COSAR adding another rescue to its list Saturday night when five skiers went out of bounds at Big White Ski Resort.
Kelowna RCMP called on the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team to assist in rescuing five skiers at Big White Mountain Ecological Reserve backcountry. According to COSAR the skiers lost their way and were stuck in the backcountry area.
“COSAR responded with seven snowmobiles and 10 support personnel,” read the COSAR press release.
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COSAR worked together with the Big White ski patrol and managed to make contact with the five skiers around 7 p.m.
“[Big White Ski Club] would like to thank BW Ski Patrol and COSAR for the assistance in rescuing five club members today,” said Big White’s senior vice president Michael Ballingall.
“The crew has been found safe and is on route back at the moment. We look forward to learning more information so our members can learn from the situation. The biggest thing is everyone is safe!”
Search and rescue crews located the skiers on the Two John FSR and brought them to Big White Road. COSAR says the individuals were met by family once they were out and taken back to Big White to warm up.
“The coordinated effort between our two teams made this a textbook rescue,” said COSAR search manager Duane Tresnich.
“It was also a positive note that all the skiers stayed together in one place when they realized they were in trouble, making it easier for search teams to reach them.”
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